Royals agree to $55 million contract with Meche

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) _ The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms with right-hander Gil Meche on a five-year deal worth $55 million on Thursday as baseball's winter meetings neared a conclusion.

Thursday, December 7th 2006, 1:11 pm

By: News On 6

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) _ The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms with right-hander Gil Meche on a five-year deal worth $55 million on Thursday as baseball's winter meetings neared a conclusion.

Meche has a 55-44 career record with a 4.65 ERA in 147 games, all of them with the Seattle Mariners.

``We were proud to be a part of the process and delighted that Gil Meche made the decision to join the Royals,'' general manager Dayton Moore said. ``He is an impact pitching talent who fits in with our plan for long term success. At 28, he is entering the prime of his career.''

Meche was 11-8 with a 4.48 ERA and career highs of 186 2-3 innings and 156 strikeouts in 32 starts for Seattle in 2006.

Meche, who must pass a physical for the deal to be completed, will receive a $2 million signing bonus along with a $7 million salary in 2007, $11 million in each of the next two years and $12 million each in 2010 and '11.